Collins Statement on Comey Memos and McCabe Criminal Referral

WASHINGTON—Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), issued the following statement upon the release of memos that former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey authored and in response to the inspector general’s criminal referral of former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Collins is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which exercises oversight over the Department of Justice and FBI.

“As James Comey himself has insisted time and again, truth and integrity matter enormously, and federal law enforcement must prosecute people who lie to investigators. On this point, I agree with Mr. Comey, and I support the inspector general’s conclusion that Andrew McCabe’s dishonesty during an investigation within his own law enforcement agency warrants a criminal referral.

“Mr. Comey’s memos illustrate that he used different standards in his official work involving President Donald Trump than he applied to his work with former Attorney General Loretta Lynch and others. The memo he leaked—in order to effect the appointment of a Special Counsel—reinforces the inconsistency and bias with which he acted as FBI director as well as his willingness to substitute his own judgment for FBI policies. These facts indicate that Mr. Comey is less fettered to objective standards of integrity and the policies of our justice system than his public declarations claim.”